MEDIA RELEASE

27 September 2013

Singer Leona Lewis Photo Campaign Says Bunnies Are For Hugging, Not Hurting In Cosmetics Tests

Star supports Be Cruelty-Free NZ campaign for International Rabbit Day

Singer Leona Lewis is showing bunnies some love this International Rabbit Day. Lewis is supporting the Be Cruelty-Free campaign by SAFE and Humane Society International to end cosmetics animal testing in New Zealand and around the world.

Lewis donated a photo from her personal collection for a day of global #BeCrueltyFree twitter action. The photo shows the singer cuddling up to her rescued rabbit Melrose. Rabbits are widely used to test cosmetics.

Unlike Europe, Israel and India, in New Zealand there is no legal ban preventing cosmetic companies from testing products or ingredients on animals. But SAFE and HSI's Be Cruelty-Free campaign wants to see NZ's Animal Welfare Act amended to outlaw such testing. They're presenting the Government with a detailed proposal as part of the current revision of the law. The Green Party has declared support for a ban.  

Lewis said: “Ending animal testing for cosmetics is close to my heart, and so is my bunny Melrose. Melrose is so gentle and loving with such an amazing personality all her own, it breaks my heart to know that there are thousands of rabbits, just as special, suffering a terrible fate to test cosmetics. I would never dream of causing Melrose pain, but in laboratories around the world, rabbits and other helpless animals still have chemicals dripped in their eyes or spread over their sensitive skin just to test new lip sticks or shampoo. I want their suffering to stop. I'm proud to be a bunny-hugger for Be Cruelty-Free on International Rabbit Day. Be a bunny-hugger too and let's end cosmetics cruelty!”

Around the world, rabbits are used in painful eye and skin irritation tests for consumer products. Rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice all endure untold suffering for the beauty industry. Developed in the 1940s, skin and eye irritation tests involve holding rabbits in full body restraints so that chemicals can be dripped in their eye or spread on their shaved skin. These tests are notoriously unreliable as well as extremely cruel, causing eye reddening, swelling, ulceration, even blindness, or skin cracking and bleeding. Unlike humans, rabbits have no tear ducts so they can't cry out the harmful substances.   

Be Cruelty-Free NZ is part of the largest campaign in the world to end cosmetics animal testing. Globally, Humane Society International and its Be Cruelty-Free partners are leading the charge to end cosmetics cruelty in Australia, Brazil, China, Korea, New Zealand, Russia and beyond. Be Cruelty-Free USA is spearheaded by The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund.

ENDS

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